Chesterfield Inlet
Students and staff members at Victor Sammurtok School began rebuilding the fleet for their qajaq program this past month.
The group is using the $140,000 Arctic Inspiration Prize money awarded the program this past February.
The majority of the prize money is being used to rebuild the qajaq fleet and replace much needed equipment such as new floater suits for the student participants and the course instructors.
Call for AIP nominations
Kivalliq
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP).
The AIP will award up to $3 million in 2018, which will be shared by up to 10 winning teams in three prize categories.
One prize of $1 million may be awarded to one exceptional team, while up to four teams will be awarded up to $500,000 each, and up to seven teams, with members 30 years of age or younger, will be awarded up to $100,000 each.
The Youth prize category seeks to inspire the next generations of Arctic innovators to develop projects and plans that address issues and opportunities relevant to them.
Potential projects can address any opportunities or challenges that are of importance to the Canadian Arctic and its peoples.
A project can have one or more focus areas such as, but not limited to, education, training, health and wellness, environment and climate change, recreation, tourism, culture and economic development.
Nominations will be accepted until October 15, 2018.
Niqitsialiurniq program to run
Rankin Inlet
The community of Rankin Inlet will be hosting a Niqitsialiurniq program from May 28 to Aug. 31.
Selected participants will learn traditional Inuit and modern cooking skills, harvesting and food preparation skills.
They will also work with elders to gain traditional knowledge, and develop literacy, language and other essential skills.
The program is being overseen by the Nunavut Literacy Council's Adriana Kusugak and Kelly Lindell in Rankin Inlet.
New thrift store opens
Baker Lake
The Abluqta Society opened the doors to a new thrift store in Baker Lake on Friday, May 11.
The society had been planning the store's opening for about three years, and has also raised $30,000 to employ a store manager.
The Baker thrift store is modelled after the Ikurraq Deacon's Cupboard in Rankin Inlet; an operation which sells good used clothing at greatly reduced prices and is also a food bank.